Lightning-arrester.



R. P. JACKSON.

LIGHTNING ARRESTER. APPLICATION FILED FEB.21.191

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

ATTORNEY smarts RAY P. JA KSON, 0F EDGEFNOGD 'PARK, PENNSYLVEJIIA, ASS

ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CQnEQBAEZQN 8F LIGHTNING-ARRESTER.

Application filed February 21, 1911.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RAY P. JACKSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Edgewood Park, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Lightning-Arresters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to lightning arresters and similar devices of the electrolytic cell type, and it has for its object to provide a device of this character which shall be simple, rugged and durable in construction and shall be particularly adapted to withstand rough usage and severe operating conditions.

The distinctive features of my present invention reside in a method of supporting the trays from their edges, a means for securing the trays rigidly together to form a single self-contained unit and a means for alining and assembling any desired number of such units one above the other in a compact structure.

Heretofore in this type of apparatus the trays have been spaced apart by insulating pieces in the form of washers, and the trays and washers have been held in place by means 01" wooden rods which projected through openings in the trays and in the washers. The rods have thus been in close proximity to the trays which has rendered the trays liable to short-cirouit by reason of the absorption of moisture from the oil. Furthermore, it has been costly and inconvenient to assemble units of the former type and also to replace an insulating washer in case of breakage.

According to my invention, these difficulties are overcome, as the clamping tie-rods are entirely independent of the spacers and the trays. Moreover, the trays are carefully and safely spaced from the wooden supporting structure by means of the upper and lower clamping plates whereby all possibility of short-circuiting the trays is precluded.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 309,544.

accomc n detail, a 1 contains a supporting Ti or standa d 2 upon which a plurality of individual cell sections 8 and l re assembled, said sections comprising a pluralit f fluid-containing trays 5 which are fitted one within another in a manner to be hereinafter set forth.

The supporting frame or standard 2 comprises a base portion 6, which rests upon the bottom 7 of the tank 1, upwardly projecting guide members 8 of insul. material and brackets 9 which cons rute integral parts of the base portion 6.

The cell sections 3 and are of similar structure and each comprises an upper clamping plate 10 and a lower clamping plate 11, between which are assembled a are supported and insula' at their outer edges 1:? by ill insulating and spacing memoers upper and lower clamp' are severally provided v. i lat which are secured to tie--rods to clamp s getlier to guide members 8 for alining and guiding purposes. The lower clamping plate 11 1s annular in form and is adapted to receive the bottom tray 5 of the set and to make intimate contact therewith, while the upper clamping plate '10 also constitutes an annular member which is provided with a downwardly projecting portion 18 the outer edge of which is inclined to conform to the general shape of the outer portion 19 of the upper tray 5, so as to make intimate contact with its inner face.

The trays 5, which are adapted to contain a suitable electrolyte, are of like construction and are preferably made of aluminum, although other material may be employed. Each tray is provided with a centrally disposed frusto-conical indentation 21, .Which projects upwardly to a height slightly in excess of that of the outer edge 12, and each indentation is provided with a relatively large central opening 22. In assembling the trays, the central openings 22 register to form a passage 23, through which circulation of insulating liquid may be established inorder to cool the several trays and main tain the apparatus in good operating condition. Inasmuch as the upper portions of the indentations 21 are of greater height than the outer edges 12 of the several trays, the central openings 22 will have no tendency to drain the electrolyte with which the trays are filled.

The lower clamping plate 11 of the boting plate 10 and are held in intimate con-. tact therewith by means of set screws 26' which cooperate with the clamping plate 10.

to rigidly secure the bridge 24 thereto. A terminal member 27 is secured to the middle portion 28 of the bridge 2% and thus an electrical connection is established between said terminal member and the upper tray 5 of the upper cell section 3.

The completion of the electrical circuit between the cell sections 3 and 4 is accomplished through the feet 16 of the lower clamping plate 11 of the upper section 3, which support said section upon the projecting lugs 17 of the lower adjacent clamping plate 10 of the cell section 4.

Those skilled in the art will readily understand that, inasmuch as each cell section constitutes a complete and self-contained unit, a lightning arrester adapted for any desired voltage may be constructed by assembling a sufficient number of cell sections, one above another, in the manner hereinbefore set forth.

In preparing the lightning arrester for service, the component parts are assembled as hereinbefore shown and described, after which the several trays are filled with a suitable electrolyte according to the usual practice. The whole structure is then immersed in a suitable insulating oil which is contained within the tank 1 and is adapted to suppress discharges between the several trays and to cool and maintain the structure at a substantially uniform temperature. Inasmuch as the specific gravity of the insulating oil'is less than that of the electrolyte, there is no tendency for the electrolyte to be disturbed or displaced thereby.

In operation, when the oil has become heated, it slowly rises through the central passage 23, and a liberal circulation thereof is established which dissipates the heat by distributing it throughout the whole structure.

It will, of course, be understood that, although I have shown and described a device of specific structural detail, many modifications may be elfected therein without exceeding the spirit and scope of my invention, and I desire that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an electrolytic lightning arrester, the combination with a liquidcontaining tank and a supporting frame disposed therein and having upwardly projecting guide members, of a plurality of self-contained cell sections disposed one above another and held in position by said guide members, each cell section embodying suitable means for cooperating with said guide members.

2. In an electrolytic lightning arrester, the combination with a liquid-containing tank and a supporting frame disposed therein and having upwardly projecting guide members, of a plurality ofindependent cell structures resting one upon another and maintained in position by said guide members, each cell structure comprising a plurality of trays, spacing members for supporting said trays at the edges thereof, clamping plates disposed in intimate contact with the upper and lower trays, and means for securing said plates together.

3. In an electrolytic lightning arrester, the combination with a liquid-containing tank and a supporting frame disposed therein and having upwardly projecting guide members, of a cell structure comprising a plurality of trays fitted one Within another, insulating members disposed between the edges of adjacent trays, clamping members disposed in intimate contact with the upper and lower trays and provided with projecting members to engage said guide members, and suitable tie-rods for securing said plates rigidly together.

4-. In an electrolytic lightning arre'ster, the combination with a liquidcontaining tank and a supporting structure therein, of a plurality of spaced trays nested one within another, clamping plates disposed in con- Oopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the supporting structure and spacing said trays therefrom.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 17th day of Feb,

RAY P. JACKSON. Witnesses:

BERTRAND P. ROWE, B. B. HINEs.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

